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Purpose: Mesocestoides spp. are Cyclophyllidean tapeworms with zoonotic importance. The current study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics of Mesocestoides larvae (tetrathyridium) isolated from the abdominal cavity of persion jird, Meriones persicus, and from the liver of grey hamster, Cricetulus migratorius, in Ardabil Province, northwest Iran. Methods: Genomic DNA of the isolates of Mesocestoides tetrathyridium were extracted, and mitochondrial gene of cytochrome-c oxidase subunit1 (cox1) was amplified. Sequencing of PCR products were performed and phylogenic analysis was run using MEGA 6.0 software. Results: Both isolates were identified as Mesocestoides litteratus, showing high identity with M. litteratus sequences available in GenBank. Also, they had 100% homology to each other. Intra-species variation within isolates of M. litteratus were 0–2.4%. The phylogenetic reconstruction based on the partial sequence of the cox1 gene showed that our sequences of M. litteratus were clustered with M. litteratus isolates from Slovakia, Netherlands, Germany and Italy. Conclusion: This is the first molecular description of M. litteratus from M. persicus and C. migratorius. Phylogenetic analysis illustrated that M. litteratus isolates of the current study had very high identities with the isolates of this species from other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxocariasis is one of the neglected zoonosis with considerable public health importance around the world. The current study aimed to elucidate the overall prevalence of Toxocara infection in human and definitive hosts and also the contamination of soil and raw vegetables with the ova of these parasites, in Iran, using systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Six English and Persian databases were explored from 2000 to 2017 using the terms toxocariasis, Toxocara spp., visceral larva migrans, Iran, epidemiology, and prevalence. This meta-analysis conducted using STATA, and for all statistical tests, a p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. The random-effects model was used to the report of the pooled prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The pooled prevalence of toxocariasis in human was calculated as 11% (95% CI 8–13%). In terms of definitive hosts, the pooled prevalence of Toxocara infection in dogs and cats were calculated as 17% (95% CI 14–20%) and 37% (95% CI 26–48%), respectively. Also, the pooled prevalence of Toxocara spp. eggs in the soil and raw vegetable samples were calculated as 18% (95% CI 13–23%) and 2% (95% CI 1–3%), respectively. Conclusions: The results of current study demonstrate that toxocariasis should be taken more seriously by health authorities. Implementing an appropriate control program is necessary to reduce the incidence of this disease in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blastocystis sp. is a polymorphic intestinal parasite in humans and animals. The parasite has a worldwide distribution, especially in developing countries with poor sanitation, exposure to animals, and improper disposal systems. The aim of this study was to identify the subtypes of Blastocystis sp. among children of Qazvin, northwest Iran. Totally, 864 stool samples were collected from the children referred to Qods hospital in Qazvin, Iran. Fecal specimens were investigated by formalin-ethyl acetate concentration method and trichrome staining as well as cultivation of all samples in clotted fetal bovine medium. DNA extraction of culture-positive specimens and PCR amplification of 18S ribosomal RNA gene region was performed. The sequences detected were compared with reference genes in the GenBank, and the sequences further deposited in the GenBank database. Data analysis was performed by Chi square test while a p value of < 0.05 was considered as significant. Of 864 isolates, 4.1% (36/864) were positive for Blastocystis sp. with infection rate insignificantly higher among the females than males. The highest infection rate was estimated at 6.8% in 6–9 years old age group with abdominal pain as the most common (33%) gastrointestinal sign. No statistically significant difference was found between the variables and Blastocystis infection. Molecular analysis clarified the presence of three subtypes of Blastocystis including ST1 (56%), ST2 (28%), and ST3 (16%) of among specimens with ST1 as the predominant subtype. A significant association between intestinal signs and the subtypes was not found. Considering ST1 as the predominant subtype, it seems that zoonotic transmission is a main route of human infections with Blastocystis sp. in the area studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a common protozoan parasite among all mammals, in particular small ruminants, worldwide. Traditional husbandry can be a major risk factor for infection of sheep and goats with this parasite. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the current status of the prevalence for T. gondii in livestock of Qazvin Province. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the sera of 455 sheep and 375 goats were examined to detect anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by using in-house indirect ELISA. Results: Overall, 33.62% (153/455) of sheep and 36.41% (130/375) of goats were positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies with no statistically significant difference. The prevalence rate of T. gondii among the sheep of Qazvin County was significantly higher than in Abyek and Abhar counties (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that the prevalence of T. gondii in sheep and goats of the study area is high. Therefore, the meat of the animals reared in this area can be a potential source of human infections by this parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of parasitic infections among the food handlers of Saqqez County in 2016. Stool samples collected from 1530 food handlers. All samples were examined by both direct technique and sedimentation technique using formalin-ethyl acetate for detecting the intestinal parasites. Of total participants, 1462 (95.6%) were male and 62 (4.4%) female. Intestinal parasitic infections were found in 92 (6.01%) individuals. The highest infection rate was due to Giardia lamblia (4.1%) and the lowest associated with Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba butschlii, and Hymenolepis nana (0.1%). No significant correlation between the intestinal parasitic infections and age, gender, education level, gastrointestinal signs and symptoms, and the type of profession, was established. The results of the present study revealed that only a small number of food handlers in Saqqez County were infected with intestinal parasites with G. lamblia as the most common cause of infection. More strict health control for those working in food industries is of vital importance and continuous education to improve the level of general health in these people is undoubtedly considered as a key determinant towards lower number of parasitic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory animals, especially mice and rats, are commonly used in biomedical researches. This study was designed to evaluate the status of gastrointestinal parasites in Wistar rats using parasitological methods. Sixty Wistar rats in different ages which were being maintained conventionally were selected randomly from laboratory animal house. The contents of the gastrointestinal tract of the rats were examined by parasitological methods. All of the rats under study were infected with at least one parasite. Twelve genera of parasites were detected in the rats, the six of which were protozoa including Giardia muris, Entamoeba muris, Blastocystis spp., Eimeria spp., Tritrichomonas muris, and Cryptosporidium spp., and the six other ones were helminths including Hymenolepis nana, Syphacia muris, Syphacia obvelata, Strongyloides ratti, Trichosomoides crassicauda (bladder parasite), and Aspiculuris tetraptera. G. muris showed the highest prevalence rate (96%) followed by T. muris (95%). In addition, the lowest prevalence rate observed in this study was related to S. obvelata, S. ratti, T. crassicauda, and A. tetraptera, all with 1.5% prevalence. Consequently, it is crucial for researchers to monitor laboratory animals by health surveillance programs, essentially emphasizing the good laboratory practice (GLP) to ensure the quality, consistency, and reproducibility of data in their research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]